Rental Car Accident

[CANUCK2]

May be a small point but was effective for me. We always carry a camera in our vehicle(disposable type) and when we were in a similar incident we took out the camera and took pictures of everything including the people (some didn't like that!) and then we started demanding to see cedulas, insurance papers etc. Funny everybody dispersed pretty quickly and we went on our way!

[Hillbilly]

That is just what I was thinking.

Well done....but keep the camara hidden.

HB

[lhtown]

I also carry an old camera in my car. A year or so ago, an Amet officer backed into my car (as he committed several traffic violations, while I was completely "clean"). He wanted me to move the vehicle. Instead, I got out and took pictures of the event from every angle including the license numbers. He happened to be standing in some of the pictures. It became evident that he was really scared and told me that I couldn't take pictures. I informed him in a voice loud enough that everyone could hear, that of course, I could, I was in the middle of a public street (there may be a law against snapping shots of public officials). I really wanted to get the damage fixed on my truck (his wasn't too bad), mine had a decent dent. He continually refused to go to the police to file a report. Finally, I decided that since it was my wife's birthday, I would have to leave to take her out. I ended up trading the roll of film to the officer for another he bought me and dropping the whole thing.

Lesson-always carry a cell phone- I just happened to be without it that day.

[lhtown]

I also carry an old camera in my car. A year or so ago, an Amet officer backed into my car (as he committed several traffic violations, while I was completely "clean"). He wanted me to move the vehicle. Instead, I got out and took pictures of the event from every angle including the license numbers. He happened to be standing in some of the pictures. It became evident that he was really scared and told me that I couldn't take pictures. I informed him in a voice loud enough that everyone could hear, that of course, I could, I was in the middle of a public street (there may be a law against snapping shots of public officials). I really wanted to get the damage fixed on my truck (his wasn't too bad), mine had a decent dent. He continually refused to go to the police to file a report. Finally, I decided that since it was my wife's birthday, I would have to leave to take her out. I ended up trading the roll of film to the officer for another he bought me and dropping the whole thing.

Lesson-always carry a cell phone- I just happened to be without it that day.

[CANUCK2]

Any thoughts about the 'legality' of taking pictures of officials in this capacity?

[Josue Collado]

Originally posted by CANUCK2
Any thoughts about the 'legality' of taking pictures of officials in this capacity?

Ha ha ha! the laws in DR are very similar to the laws in France and US. What's diferent is the people that enforce them. Welcome to DR. I've been driving since I was 14 in DR, now I'm close to 50.
If you're planning to live in DR go to New York City first and drive around St. Nicholas/ 181 st (up town anyways). When you feel you can handle it then get a dominican driver to train you how to drive in DR. Drive like us dominicans do and you'll be safe! hahaha.
I see it like roll skating, if you slow down or change direction chances are some skater is going to crash with you. Driving in DR is not a sport , it's an xtreme sport. Do as they do whithout getting in trouble. People that drive in the same way they drive in US make dominican drivers very impatient. I always say to my wife that if I have an american enemy a sweet revenge would be to make him drive around Duarte con Paris, San Martin, Benito etc.
The only places you can not take pictures of are military or government installations. Remember that a police officer in DR always is right and he has the gun. Make friends in high places and always carry their Bnss card. By the way, do you people think I can move to DR and open a driving school to teach foreigners how to drive the same way dominicans do? For you is something very shocking, for them is like drinking a Presidente bien fria.
My last advise is: Learn spanish, dress like dominican, move your hands while you talk and don't forget to eat platanos majados or mangu at least three times a week! haha.

[stargazer]

Well, I did rent a car for two weeks in July - how bad could it possibly be, I'd driven in Italy for almost 20 years? I drove all over from Cabrera to Costambar. It was NOT a pleasant experience!. No rules of the civilized road are followed. Couple that with a complete lack of traffic controll/enforcement and you have chaos. I was furious!

Then I had an epiphany - the DR is a country of "teenage" level drivers! In 1998 there were 500,000 vehicles on the road, in 2002 over 2.1 million. The drivers have not have the experience to know the damage that a vehicle can do. Perhaps when they experience large number of traffic fatalities and serious injury, and with real accountablilty for accidents, the situation will improve.

In the future, I will use public transport or insured private drivers who have demonstrated driving skill.

[Danny W]

I rent from National (a DR1 advertiser) and take maximum insurance, even though I pay by American Express. Being an experienced Manhattan driver, I'm not overly intimidated by driving in the DR. The big problem I see is the lack of warning for construction, holes in the road, cars broken down at night in the middle of the road with no lights, and hard to see motos coming from nowhere. The other night on Charles DeGaulle during a blackout (no traffic lights!!!) with hugh piles of earth for a beautification project filling the left hand lane completely impossible to see, a rainstorm - now that's just about like Manhattan at rush hour.

Oh yeah, one day on the highway between Boca Chica and SP de Macoris a guy pulls beside my on a moto @ 60 mph, dressed in regular clothes, and flashes me his open wallet as if he's a cop and ordering me to pull over. I slowed down and when he pulled over I sped away. His face was full of righteous idignation at such an insult. -D

[XanaduRanch]

Danny! Obviously a New Yorker. I could never get away with that I am from Iowa. Been to New York many times but still haven't got the cojones for that - I lewt my wife do all the insults and bribing! But very funny!

A thumbs up!